He slipped quietly away after a long and hard-fought battle with Amyloidosis. He never was one for fanfare. As was his wish, he was at home and able to spend his final days with the love of his life, his wife Trixie Yvonne and generations of his cherished family.
Bill was born in Vancouver, BC in 1937 and at 17 he began what would be a 34 year career in the Canadian Forces. Posted to Gander, NL in the early days he met and courted a young lady from Botwood, NL, Trixie Yvonne Hemeon, marrying her on June 30, 1958. They were inseparable. Within the first year they welcomed their first child and they would go on to raise six children together. Bill retired from the military as a Captain with CD and put down roots in Cloverdale, BC in 1987, where he lived with his loving wife until his departure.
Never a man to sit idle, retirement just meant he could do more things and explore new paths. After two years at Capilano College he worked with the Government Telecommunications Agency in Vancouver, BC and was head-hunted to source and provide communications for APEC 1997, fully retiring in 1999.
A true Renaissance man he was as at home behind a sewing machine as he was fixing an engine, turning a school bus into an RV, filling the house with beautiful music he played on the piano and helping various churches by stepping up to play the organ. He was intelligent, thoughtful and generous and could repair almost anything with some thought, the right tools, spare parts and a good manual. He programmed computers before most people knew what they were and loved to jump into his motor home with his best girl and head out onto the highways.
He was a firm, but loving father and an engaged grandfather and great-grandfather who always made time for those special moments of achievement or just to listen, wipe away tears and offer counselling and encouragement. He was a man of his word, counting integrity, and discipline among his strengths and he appreciated hard work and recognized it in other people.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Agnes (Milholm) Martyn, sons William F.G and Kevin Martyn and great-grandson, Henry Driscoll.
He leaves to mourn his wife of 63 years, sister Ailsa Bock, daughter Karen Lindh (Gunnar), sons Paul (Bonnie) and Brian Martyn, daughter Andrea Jones (Don), grandchildren Lars-Erik Lindh (Deidra), Cassandra Driscoll (Eric), Aaron Lindh, Kevin Ilomin, Brandon, Nathan and Jordan Martyn, five beautiful great-grandchildren and his best friend since childhood, Johnny Shea. He also leaves many friends, relatives and extended family across Canada and his close circle of friends in BC, including the members of Friendship Force of Vancouver.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of William Bill Struthers Martyn October 21st 1937 to May 18th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Cloverdale, Province: Colombie britanique